Safari calls stop() when you switch to a different tab, and calls start() again when you switch back. All the other browsers call stop() when you leave the page that contains applet, either by closing the tab or navigating to a different page.

In all browsers (AFAIK), when you leave the page, stop() is called followed by destroy().

Well in fact this is one of those cases where the plugin or the browser is buggy. One of those cases why applets are hated so much.

Could you please update to the latest version of java (1.5.0_12 or 1.6.0_1) and see if the problem is still there.If its still there could you please file a bug-report at http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/index.jsp - with detailed informations about your system (versions of browsers, installed service packs, ...).

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